This study examined NCAA Division I men’s basketball initial academic non-qualifiers, their low graduation rate, and variables that increase these rates. While graduation rates and overall academic success of Division I student-athletes has, in fact, improved over the past 25 years (National Collegiate Athletic Association, 2009e), there is still much room for growth. Academic support systems as well as a coaching staff’s perceived communicated importance of academics appears to play a role in the student athlete success rate.